Conference Director Herb Hiller organizes programs about placemaking. In 1977, he organized the Miami-Bahamas Goombay Festival that annually draws up to 350,000 celebrants. His bicycle touring program in rural north Florida revived the 50-year dormant Florida bicycling movement for which he was named charter recipient of the Florida Governor’s Physical Fitness Honor Award. A 1978 conference in Puerto Rico re-focused Caribbean tourism on locally resourceful business development. Herb led formation of the Florida bed-and-breakfast movement. introduced the Great Florida Birding Trail, and serves as American Trails-designated Florida Trail Advocate of the Year (2010-2012). He has published three books about placemaking.

Conference Associate Director Caroline McKeon is a seasoned communications professional and owner of Florida Journeys Communications (www.floridajourneys.com) a full service company that specializes in creating strategic communications and branding campaigns that promote the economic value of Florida’s natural and cultural heritage. Since 1998, she has been developing, writing, producing and distributing Florida content that captures Florida’s unique sense of place. Her big picture vision, ability to integrate complex subjects and attention to detail translates her client’s message into a visual format and recognizable brand. Clients include Island Pearl Excursions, Anna Maria Island Water Shuttle, Florida Park Service, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Sarasota Bay Watch, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Global Organic Specialty Source, Inc., 1000 Friends of Florida, Little Everglades Ranch, Coalition to Preserve Our Water Resources, Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Discovery Communications, Inc., The Travel Channel, and Tampa PBS station WEDU/Channel 3. Prior to launching her own company McKeon developed and acquired television programming for national cable networks The Discovery Channel and The Travel Channel.

Contact: caroline@sustainableandauthenticflorida.com